Upwardly acting door



March i8, 1958 E. l.. sTRoUP 2932?;14

UPWARDLY ACTING DooR Filed May 18, 195e 2 sheds-sheet 1 A, l Z5 N W Z- 79% 70 l cr 70 1K7 .March 18, ws@ El, STROUP Y827,114

UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1956 INVENTOR. faf/5V/oaf ///a/wfa BY 5- l l" United States PatentOiiFlce 2,827,114Patented Mar. 18, 17958 UPWARDILY ACTING DOOR Earl L. Stroop, HartfordCity, Ind., assigner to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City, Ind.

Application May 18, 1956, Serial N0. 585,738

10 Claims. (Cl. 160-209) This invention relates to upwardly acting doorswhich are well adapted for embodiment in trucks, trailers, freight carsand the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an upwardly acting door provided with highly eiectivesealing means when the door is in closed position.

Second, to provide an upwardly acting door having these advantages inwhich the resilient seal members are under compression when the door isclosed and at the same time the door is moved to and from sealingposition with a minimum of frictional engagement with the seal members.

Third, to provide a door structure having these advantages that can bereadily installed or embodied in trucks, trailers,.freight cars, coldstorage structures and the like without substantial structuralmodication of such structures.

Fourth, tor provide a door assembly embodying these advantages which isrelatively simple and economical in its parts and may be readilyinstalled.

' yObjects relating to details and economies of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined andpointed out in the claims.

' A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section of an upwardly acting doorassembly embodying my invention, the door being shown in its openposition.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to that of Fig. land on a line .corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. with the door inpartially closed position.

Fig.l 3 is a fragmentary View in section on a line corresponding to line3-3 of Fig. 6 with the door in fully closed position.

y Fig. i is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical sectionshowing the door in an intermediate position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on a linecorresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary View in horizontal section on a linecorresponding to line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustratingthe lock for the door.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as embodiedby me in a truck or trailer. It should be understood, however, that myinvention is capable of a wide adaptationsuch for example as freightcars, cold storage buildings and to garages and the like where sealingof the door is important. Y

In the accompanying drawings 1 represents the roof of a truck or thelike, 2 a portion of a wall thereof having a door opening therein, and 3door frame side members. The bottom 4 is provided with a sill portion 5.These parts 'are shown more or less conventionally as they form no partof my invention except as hereinafter pointed out and may varyconsiderably in structure. The door frame side members 3 do form animportant function in the embodiment illustrated as they providesupports for the angle door side frame or jamb members 6 which are of`angle section and disposed facing inwardly. I have illustrated only oneside of the door assembly, but it will be understood that it is commonlyduplicated on the other side of the door.

The members 6 are xedly mounted but the details of such mounting are notillustrated. The door comprises horizontally articulated sections, thestructures illustrated comprising the top section 7, the bottom section8 and intermediate sections 9. These sections are desir-ably duplicatesbut they are designated by numerals 7, 8 and 9 for convenience indescription. They are illustrated as being formed of wood and arehingedly connected by the hinges 10 and as having rabbeted meeting edges11.

The door sections are provided with track engaging rollers 12 vcarriedby the journal on the brackets 13 arranged so that the journals of therollers are in approximate alignment with the joints of the sections.Upper guide rollers 14 are carried by the brackets 15 mounted on theupper or top section of the door adjacent its upper edge. Rollers 16 aremounted on the brackets 17 adjacent the lower edge of the bottom doorsection.

The track is of inwardly facing channel section and comprises theupright'sections 18 which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends onthe inner sides of the rearwardly projecting arms of the angle jambmembers 6, the pivots 19 being closely adjacent the upper ends of theupright sections as is clearly shown on the drawings. The

upper or horizontal sections 20 of the track have downwardly andforwardly inclined front end portions 21 desirably curved and xedlysecured at 22 with their lower ends in aligned relation to the upperends of the vertical sections so that the rollers on the door may travelor pass from the upright to the upper sections, and vice versa, with theexception that the rollers 14 carried by the brackets 15 adjacent theupper edge of the top section of the door remain in engagement with theforwardly inclined ends of the upper sections when the door is fullyclosed as is shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that inthis position therollers 16 at the lower edge of the bottom door section are inengagement with the downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members 23which are flxedly mounted on the rearwardly projectin'3 arms of the jambmembers 6 as is indicated at 24. These members 23 are in eectcomplementary to the upright track sections 18 which are notched orrecessed at 25 to receive the same as is clearly illustrated in thedrawing 6, particularly Fig. 4, but are in fixed relation.

The swingable upright track sections 18 are urged rearwardly by means ofthe springs 26 which are mounted on the inner sides of the inwardlyprojecting arms of the jamb members. Stops 27 on the swingable tracksections coact vw'th the slots 28 in the rearwardly projecting arms ofthe jamb members to limit the rearward swinging movement of theswingable upright track sections, see Figs. 4 and 5. With the parts thusarranged the door is automatically thrust forwardly towards the jambwhen the door is in closed position, this resulting from the engagementVof the rollers 14 with the downwardly and forwardly inclined front endportions of the upper track sections and the engagement of the rollers16 with the downwardly and forwardly inclined relatively fixed thrustmembers 23 which are .channeled to effectively engage and provide sidethrust on the rollers 16.

To seal the door in closed position I provide seal members designatedgenerally by the numeral 29 formed of compressibly resilient materialsuch as rubber or certain resilient synthetic materials, some of whichhave certain advantages as compared to rubber. These seal members 29comprise body portions 30 and tubular outer portions 301 of flattenedsection and have laterally spaced ,Y longitudinal ns 31 and 32 on theface thereof of outdoor isA in fully closedY position.

` engage the dooras is illustrated in Fig. 6. The attaching strip 33 forthe Vseal member 29V is disposed between the jamb members and the doorframe side pieces 3 and has a flangeV 34 which is in embeddingengagement with the body of the seal member. AV similar member 35 ismounted in inwardly facing relation' above the door opening. Asealmember 36` is mounted on the bottom edge of the bottom section to coactwith the sill when the Y The means for attaching this seal member `36 isnot illustrated, but it will be understood that it'is xedly attached'tothe door and desirably has a forwardly projecting sealing lin 37 whichlaps'upon the sill when the door is in fully closed position, as isillustrated Vin Fig. 3.

With the parts thus arranged as the door approaches closed position itis'forced against the seals 29 and 35 which, as stated, are resilientlycompressible.V The seal 36V on the bottom of the door is alsoresiliently compressible. tlie seals and of the Ybottom seal with thesilloccurs as the door reaches closed position so there is very littlefrictional engagement of the door with the seal members. On the initialopening movement of the door, as a result of the Vupright sections 18being pivoted at their upper The compressing engagement of the door withK y Vends of said upright tracks, the rollers adjacent the upperends andurged rearwardly by the springs 26 and the fact 'l that the rollers 14are engaged with the forwardly and A downwardly inclined portions' 21 ofthe upper sections of the track, the door clears the seals withsubstantially no frictional movement thereon.

Y The details of counterbalancing the door are not'illus- Y asi-'nue y i4 prising upright track sections` swingably' mounted attheir upper endson the inner sides of the rearwardly projecting arms of said side framemembers, relatively fixed upper track sections having'curved downwardlyand forwardly Vinclined portions at their front ends registering withthe upper ends of said upright track sections, resiliently compressible-sideseal members mounted on the inner sides of the laterally inwardlyprojecting arms of said side frame members, a resiliently compressibletop seal member extending between the upper ends of said side sealmembers, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members fixedlymounted on the lower ends of the rearwardly projecting arms of said sideframe members, said upright track sections having rearwardlyfacing'recesvses in their lower ends disposed to receive said thrustmembers and Y rearwardly facing portions on the front anges of thetracks opposed to said thrust members, said thrust members beingpositioned to be'engag'ed by said rollers adjacent the lower edge of thebottom door section as the .door approaches closed position whereby thelower rollers are engaged and cammed'forward by the thrust mem-l Vbersand in turn engage and thrust forward the lower edge of the top doorsection simultaneously engaging downwardly and forwardly inclinedportions of said Vupper track sections spaced from the door frame so asto engage the upper edge of the Vupper door section withV the seal atthe top of the door frame, and a resiliently compressible bottom sealmember mountedon the lowerl edge of the bottom door section to engagethe sill when the door is closed. v j 2; A vertically acting doorassembly comprising side frame members of anglesection disposed withtheir angles vided'with means for locking the door inclosed position, n

the door being provided with a downwardly projecting keeper 40 whichpasses throughthe slot 41 in the sill 5 when the door is swung forwardlyto closed sealing position. When the door is fully-closed the keeperautomatically engages the bolt 42 disposed in the casing 43. The numeral44 in Fi'g. 7 represents a bolt releasing key. I have not illustratedthe details of the lock 43 as such details form no part of my presentinvention, and locks suitable for the purpose are commerciallyYavailable.

Y The providing ofthe door with arkeeper on its lower edge Y a widevariety ofzconditions.

facing inwardly, horizontally articulated top, bottom andintermediatedoor sections provided with track engaging rollers, the topand bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upperandjlower edges respectively, tracks of facing channel track sectioncompris- The retracting movement of the door at the beginning of theopening thereof is highly important, not only in preventing frictionalwear on the seals, but also breaking abond of ice that may have beenformed between the door and the parts against which it closes.

V'track Vengaging rollers, the top and bottom sections havingtrackrengaging rollers adjacent Ytheir upper'andV lower edgesrespectively, tracksA of facing channel section coming upright sectionsswingably mounted at their upper ends on the inner sides of therearwardly projectinggarms of said side frame members,'relatively fixedupperV track sections having curved downwardly and forwardly inclinedportions at their front ends registering with'theA upper ends of saidupright track sections, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust membersiiXedly mounted on the lower ends of the rearwardly projecting arms ofVsaid side `frame members, said uprightV track sections havingrearwardly facing recesses in their'lower endsdisposed to receive saidthrustmembers and rearwardly facing portions on the front anges Vof thetracks opposed to said,

' forward by the thrust members and inturn engagel and thrust forwardthe lower endsV of said upright tracks, the rollers adjacent theupper-edge of the top door section simultaneously engaging downwardlyandfforwardly inclined portions of said uppertrack sections spaced fromthedoor frame so as to engage the upper edge of the upper door sectionwith the top of the'door frame(- 3. A vertically acting door assemblycomprising side frame members of angle section disposedfwith theirangles facing inwardly, horizontally articulated'top, bottom andintermediate door sections provided with track engaging rollers, the topand bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upperand lower `edges respectively, tracks of' facing channel track sectioncomprising upright-sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on theinner sides of the rearwardly projecting arms of said side framemembers, relatively fixed upper trackV sections having curved downwardlyandforwardly inclined'portions at' their front ends registering with theupper ends of saidV upright track sections, stops limiting the rearwardswinging movement of the lower ends of said upright track sections,springs mounted on said side frame members to yieldingly urge the lowerends of said upright track sections rearwardly, downwardly and forwardlyinclined thrust members xedly mounted on the lower ends of therearwardly projecting arms of said side frame members, said uprighttrack sections having rearwardly facing recesses in their lower endsdisposed to receive said thrust members and rearwardly facing portionson the front anges of the tracks opposed to said thrust members, saidthrust members being positioned to be engaged by said rollers adjacentthe lower edge of the bottom door section as the door approaches closedposition whereby the lower rollers are engaged and cammed forward by thethrust members and in turn engage and thrust forward the lower ends ofsaid upright tracks, the rollers adjacent the upper edge of the top doorsection simultaneously engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclinedportions of said upper track sections spaced from the door frame so asto engage the upper edge of the upper door section with the top of thedoor frame.

4. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, asill member, horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediate doorsections provided with track engaging rollers, the top and bottomsections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upper and loweredges respectively, tracks comprising upright sections swingably mountedat their upper ends on said side frame members, relatively Xed uppertrack sections having downwardly and forwardly inclined portions attheir front ends registering with the upper ends of said upright tracksections, resiliently compressible seal members mounted on said sideframe members in facing relation to the door, downwardly and forwardlyinclined thrust members disposed at the lower ends of said side framemembers, said thrust members being positioned to be engaged by saidrollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section as the doorapproaches closed position, the lower ends of said tracks havingrearwardly facing portions opposed to said thrust member and engageablewith said lower rollers when the rollers are engaged by the thrustmembers to swing said tracks forwardly, the rollers adjacent the upperedge of the top door section engaging the downwardly and forwardlyinclined portions of said upper track sections to swing the upperportion of the door forwardly on closing, and a resiliently compressiblebottom seal member mounted on the lower edge of the bottom door sectionto engage the sill when the door is closed.

5. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members,horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediate door sectionsprovided with track engaging rollers, the top and bottom sections havingtrack engaging rollers adjacent their upper and lower edgesrespectively, tracks comprising upright sections swingably mounted attheir upper ends on said side frame members, relatively fixed uppertrack sections having downwardly and forwardly inclined portions attheir front ends registering with the upper ends of said upright tracksections, resiliently compressible seal members mounted on said sideframe members in facing relation to the door, downwardly and forwardlyinclined thrust members disposed at the lower ends of said side framemembers, said thrust members being positioned to be engaged by saidrollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section as the doorapproaches closed position, the lower ends of said tracks havingrearwardly facing portions opposed to said thrust member and engageablewith said lower rollers when the rollers are engaged by the thrustmembers to swing said tracks forwardly, the rollers adjacent the upperedge of the top door section engaging the downwardly and forwardlyinclined portions of said upper track sections to swing the upperportion of the door forwardly on closing.

6. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members,horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediate door sectionsprovided with track engaging .6 rollers, the top and bottom sectionshaving track engaging rollers adjacent their upper and lower edgesrespectively, tracks -comprising upright track sections swingablymounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, relatively xedupper track sections having downwardly and forwardly inclined portionsat their front ends registering with the upper ends of said uprighttrack sections, stops limiting the rearward swinging movement of thelower ends of said upright track sections, springs mounted on said sideframe members to yieldingly urge the lower ends of said upright tracksections rearwardly, resiliently compressible seal members mounted onsaid side frame members in facing relation to the door, downwardly andforwardly inclined thrust members disposed at the lower ends of saidside frame members, said thrust members being positioned to be engagedby said rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom'door section asthe door approaches closed position, the lower ends of said trackshaving rearwardly facing portions opposed to said thrust member andengageable with said lower-rollers when the rollers are engaged by thethrust members to swing said tracks forwardly, the rollers adjacent theupper edge of the top door section engaging the downwardly and forwardlyinclined portions of said upper track sections to swing the upperportion of the door forwardly on closing. 7. A vertically acting doorassembly comprising side frame members, a sill member, horizontallyarticulated door sections, the top door section having track engagingmembers adjacent its upper edge and the bottom section having trackengaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sectionsswingably mounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, uppertrack sections Y having relatively fixed downwardly and forwardlyinclined portions at their front ends aligned with upper ends of saidupright track sections, downwardly and forwardly inclined relativelyfixed members disposed at the lower ends of the upright track sectionsto be engaged by the track engaging members adjacent lower edges of thebottom door section as the door approaches closed position and acting toswing the upright door sections forwardly, the lower ends of said trackshaving rearwardly facing portions opposed to said inclined xed membersto be engaged by said track engaging members when in contact with saidfixed members to swing said tracks forwardly. said track engagingmembers adjacent the upper edge of the upper door section engagingdownwardly and forwardly inclined portions of the upper track sectionsto swing the upper door section forwardly simultaneously with theswinging of the vertical track sections, resiliently compressiblerearwardly facing seal members mounted on said side frame members infacing relation to the door, a rearwardly facing top seal member infacing relation to said top door section, and resiliently compressiblebottom seal members mounted on the bottom door section to engage thedoor sill when the door is closed.

8. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, asill member, horizontally articulated door sections, the top doorsection having track engaging members adjacent its upper edge and thebottom section having track engaging members adjacent its lower edge,upright track sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on saidside frame members, upper track sections having relatively fixeddownwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends alignedwith upper ends of said upright track sections, and downwardly andforwardly inclined relatively fixed members disposed at the lower endsof the upright track sections to be engaged by the track engagingmembers adjacent lower edges of the bottom door section as the doorapproaches closed position and acting through the lower of said trackengaging members and said upright track sections to swing the uprightdoor sections forwardly, said track engaging members adjacent the upperedge of the upper door section engaging downwardly and forwardlyinclined portions of the upper track sections to swing the upper door95A vertically acting door .assembly comprising jamb members providedVwith rearwardly facingcompressible seal-members, horizontallyarticulated door sections, the topA section having trackjengagingmembers adjacent'its Y upper edgeand the bottom section havingtrack engaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sectionsswingably mounted at rtheir upper ends, upperY track sections havingrelativelyv xeddownlwardiy and forwardly inclinedportions attheirjorwardends aligned withrupper en ds of said upright track`sections, relatively ,Xed downwardly andrforwardly inclinedthrustmembers disposed at thelower ends of said uprighttrack sectionstobe engaged-by thetrak engaging/members on the bottomsectionvandactingrto swing theupright track sections foi'-4 wardly asthedoor approaches Yclosed position, theY track engagin'gjmem'bers'onthemupper doorsection engaging the downwardly andff'orwardly inclinedportions of the upper track sectionstorswing the upperl door sectionforwardly so'thatthe door ras aV unit is `moved forwardly against saidsealv members. V V

10.- A vertically acting door assembly comprising jamb members,horizontally articulated door sections, the top section having trackengaging members adjacent its upper edge, and the bottom section havingtrack engaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sectionsswingably monntecl. at their upper ends, upper t track sectionshaving'r'elatively IiXeddownwardly and forwardly inclined portions.at.theirforwardfendsaligned withv upper ehds of. saidiipri'ght tracksections, downwadlynand .forwardly inclined thrust membersfdispo'sed at(the lower ends of said upright track vsectionsto be engaged by tracklengaging members en the bottom section Vand acting Yto yswing theupright tracksections forwardly as .the Ydoor approaches closedposition, the track engaging members nrthe upper.

door section engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclined portionsofthe vupper track sections toswing the upper doorsection forwardly sothat the door'as aunit' isY movedforwardly against said jamb members.

ReerencesrCited inthe levof this patent UNITED YSTATES PATENTS 'Johnsonj July 26,` 1932

